Scripture: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"  (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Something to think about:  We must always remember that building each other up actually consists of two separate and complementary aspects:  the actual lifting or building up and the avoidance of pulling or tearing down. The principle is clearly seen in comparing Paul's instruction in I Thessalonians (above) with what he says in the Book of Ephesians:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).

The two instructions are  identical in telling us to build each other up, but while Thessalonians stresses encouraging each other to do so, Ephesians stresses not discouraging each other.    It is usually easier to see when we are doing the first rather than the second of these things, but we should certainly do both.  How much time do we spend thinking about how we can build each other up – in encouragement and also in not discouraging?

Today we uploaded an extract from an article by Bible Advocate editor Jason Overman originally published back in 2007. Called "Conquest and Cravings: Food, Sex, and Baal Peor," this unusual article looks at the use and misuse of  the twin pulls of food and sex throughout biblical history.  

As the article states: "The Bible explores food and sex and their potential for blessing or curse throughout its pages.  In story, in law, in poetry, the pairing of the two — in ways subtle or obvious — admonishes us of their dangers and delights.  They warn that we must master our appetite or be mastered by it."  

The combination  of food, sex, and the ancient pagan god Baal frequently led to the downfall of the ancient Israelites.  Read our extract from "Conquest and Cravings" and see how the lesson from these ancient attractions is one from which we can still profit today. You can read the extract here.

Scripture in Focus: Matthew 7:1-2

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2)


Many Christians think these words of Christ mean that we should never judge anyone under any circumstances. But is that what Jesus’ words mean in this case?

The larger context in which these verses occur is that of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and  the statement “do not judge” takes on different meaning when we look at that larger context.  Jesus’ very next words, were, in fact:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? … You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

Here, Jesus shows not that it is wrong to admit there is a problem in someone else’s life, but that we should be careful to not be hypocritical if we do judge the other person. In a similar manner, Jesus then continued to say: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs …” (Matthew 7:6), and it is clear that we must judge whether individuals are acting as “dogs” or “pigs” in order to follow this command.

So Jesus does not seem to be saying that judging others is a problem so much as overly harsh (Matthew 7:2) or hypocritical judging (Matthew 7:3-5). This understanding is further supported by the things Jesus continued to say a little later in his sermon: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:15-16). We cannot watch for false prophets without making a judgment of their character and nature based on their actions and deeds – as Christ said, “by their fruit you will recognize them,” a statement reiterated in verse 20, and one which clearly shows  there are times when the Christian needs to judge an  individual’s behavior.

Given these facts it is clear that Jesus’ words “Do not judge” must be understood in the light of what he continued to say in his sermon – not that we cannot asses and form opinions regarding the spiritual behavior of other people, but that we must be very careful not to judge them unjustly, overly harshly or hypocritically.    The Gospel of John shows Christ also commanded his disciples “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24). 

Christians can and must judge in certain circumstances, as the apostle Paul stated: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?” (1 Corinthians 6:2).   But Christ warns us that we must always be careful to judge righteously.

* See also our full length article "Why You Need the Qualities and Qualifications of a Judge."

In the days of the old sailing ships, the greatest danger most sailors faced was not piracy or storms at sea, but simply being “becalmed” or “adrift” perhaps hundreds of miles away from land. 

The word “becalmed” may sound peaceful, but it was a terrifying one to mariners on the old sail-powered boats. With no movement of wind or water, a ship was literally adrift – floating aimlessly for days or weeks on end until winds or currents took up again, or the sailors perished from lack of food and water.    

In a similar way, for most Christians, over the course of our lives, the most dangerous enemy of spiritual growth is probably not some sudden temptation or assault of our spiritual “enemy” or some personal “storm” of life,  but the danger of simply drifting. The author of the Book of Hebrews warned believers of this very situation:  “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). Notice that in this instance we are not warned against being pulled violently into temptation or spiritual failure, but simply against the danger of drifting like a leaf on a river or a bottle in the sea.

Our spiritual lives can begin to drift for a number of reasons. On the one hand we may become so overwhelmed with work, family or other things that we lose track of where we are going or do not see that, on a treadmill, we are going nowhere. Busy as we are, we are spiritually adrift and getting nowhere despite the energy we are exerting in life.  On the other hand, in an almost opposite manner, we can begin to drift in boredom. When everything is going well and we have no pressing responsibilities, it is sometimes easy to drift aimlessly in frivolous pursuits that begin to eat up the hours and days so that we eventually find ourselves drifting without real spiritual action and growth.  When this happens, we are unempowered to resist the currents of life, and spiritually we are more in danger of being “tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).

The old sailing ship analogy can help us here.  Just as sailing ships received their power from the movement of the wind or sea currents, so the Christian life is really empowered by the Spirit of God, which is itself so often symbolized in the Bible by moving air (John 3:8, Acts 2:1-4) or moving water (John 3:5, 7:38-39).   When that spirit does not flow through us, we become spiritually “becalmed” and adrift. We may feel fine otherwise, but spiritual direction and growth are greatly diminished or not present at all.

The answer to this potential danger is given by the author of Hebrews, as we saw: “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).  We certainly keep the Spirit alive and strong within us through contact with God in prayer, and also, as we see here, in study and paying attention to the things we have heard.  Whether we are adrift through overwork or through boredom, so often the spiritual result is the same – we lag behind in prayer and study because we either feel we do not have time for them, or we feel bored with them. 

But the answer in both cases is not less, but more spiritual activity to “stir up” the Spirit within us as Paul wrote to Timothy: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). These verses are usually quoted in the context of the power we receive from the Spirit, but they are equally talking about our fanning (like a blowing wind) the Spirit to increase its action.  We must take the initiative to fan the Spirit into action through our spiritual activity, and the Spirit in turn then directs and empowers us.  Spiritual growth is always accomplished this way – we are only growing to the degree that we are not drifting; we are only alive to the degree we are not adrift!

We have uploaded three titles to our "Books in Brief" page - a classic, a recent title, and the soon to be released (and eagerly anticipated) new book by Eric Metaxas.  You can check out the micro-reviews of these books here. 

“… persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9).

The apostle Paul knew a few things about being persecuted for one’s faith.   After turning from his role as persecutor of the Church, Paul was himself frequently attacked and assaulted for his beliefs and teaching.   The harassment was not just verbal. The apostle tells us he was physically beaten numerous times and that “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes” (2 Timothy 2:9). He was even, on one occasion, stoned and then dragged away and left for dead (Acts 14:19).

It was not only the leaders of the early Church who underwent persecution, of course.  In his epistles to the Thessalonians, Paul provides an example of a whole congregation that was experiencing  persecution:  “… you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV). “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering” (2 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV).  We don’t know all the details of how the Thessalonian Christians were being treated by those around them, but it is clear that they were facing discomfort and persecution.  

But Paul doesn’t just commend  these people as an example of those who are persecuted for their faith; he helps them realize where much of the spirit of persecution comes from, and he also offers them hope.  Notice what he told them: “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV).  In saying this, Paul foreshadows God’s help to persecuted Christians through the ages – stressing the fact that God either strengthens or protects his people, depending on his will, and sometimes he does both. Paul found this frequently. Sometimes he was rescued (2 Timothy 3:11) and sometimes he was not (2 Timothy 2:9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8).  

We have only to look around the world today to see that many – possibly the majority of – Christians are still living in some degree of discomfort in terms of societal or official pressure and persecution. Many are suffering intense persecution, and God still protects his people or strengthens them to endure. But why do some suffer and some escape? The testimony of history and current events both show that God works despite the persecution of his followers. It is in times and places of persecution that Christianity grows the most – both numerically and spiritually.  Not only does persecution and societal lack of approval help believers grow closer to God, but also it often gives them unique opportunities to be a better light to others. 

It is no coincidence that Paul told the Thessalonians that they were a  model to all the believers in the surrounding areas (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8).  The persecuted Thessalonians were, he tells us, especially effective in spreading the gospel  throughout their surrounding region (vs. 8) through their “work produced by faith,” their “labor prompted by love,” and their “endurance inspired by hope …” (vs.3). As a result, the Thessalonian Christians were both a powerful witness to other believers and to those outside the Faith.

Paradoxical as it may seem, Paul  reminds us that the more uncomfortable it becomes to be a Christian, the more Christian committed Christians become.  Nevertheless, we need to pray for the persecuted.  Pray for the persecuted Church!

We recommend Jonathan Petersen's excellent article on this topic on the BibleGateway.org site here. 

Scripture:  “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  Luke 19:10

Something to think about:  Modern day search and rescue operations, such as those mounted by Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue, or other hazardous terrain rescue teams,  are organized  to aid people who are in distress or imminent danger.  In all cases, of course, the rescuers have to be committed both to search effectively and then to affect a rescue.

It is a fundamental aspect of Christian belief that God did not just announce a rescue option for those who might wish to respond, but that the Son of God came to actively seek out those needing help (all of us!).  The life and death of Christ was the ultimate search and rescue operation as it sought every human being who ever lived or will yet live, and also provided the possibility of rescue from the danger of eternal death.  

But the search and rescue story does not end there. Jesus specifically commissioned his disciples to continue his work and we, as Christians, must remember that we are also in the search and rescue business by virtue of our calling.   People often ask themselves and others "What are you looking for in life?" But for the Christian the question is not "what," but whom.  We are called to follow in the steps of the One who came to seek and save, and we must all ask ourselves occasionally: "How much prayer, effort, support and involvement are we putting into search and rescue work?"

“…The LORD will be … strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate” (Isaiah 28:5-6).

Sometimes we don’t see God because we give up looking for him before we should. The verse quoted above from Isaiah has always been one of my favorites.  It reminds us that even if God does not come through till the last minute, he will be there before it is too late.  Isaiah’s words reflect a situation in which warriors defending their city are beaten back to the its very gates, but who are then given strength to turn the tide of battle right at their own doors. That's an “eleventh hour” rescue by an “eleventh hour” God!

Isaiah’s point is that we must not give up even if the battle goes on. We must not give up too soon.  It’s a principle we see throughout the Bible.  One of the most famous examples is seen in the story of King Saul, when Israel was  under attack by the Philistines and the prophet Samuel told him to go to the area of Gilgal and to wait there seven days till Samuel  arrived to offer  sacrifices and ask God’s help (1 Samuel 10:8).  But as time passed, Saul’s faith, like that of his men, began to falter:  

“Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived …” (1 Samuel 13:7-10).

The account indicates that Saul had not waited the full seven days as instructed, but waited only till the time was almost up – to the eleventh hour of the sixth day – which is when God’s representative Samuel arrived.  Saul’s disobedience in being unwilling to wait past the eleventh hour, till the last minute (as well as usurping the position of the priests and prophets), cost him his kingship (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

We see many other examples of this principle of the arrival of God’s intervention at the eleventh hour in the Bible. It appears from God’s test of Abraham (Genesis 22:1-12) to Paul’s last minute rescue (Acts 21:31-36).  There is nothing automatic about God’s intervention in situations, of course. He will intervene if it is his will, and he may intervene at any time if he chooses to do so. But the point is that once we have determined we will trust God for the outcome of any situation, we should not give up too soon.

As Christians we may sometimes get discouraged by events in our own lives and those of family and friends, let alone conditions throughout the world. But it is part of coming to see how God acts in our lives and in history itself to understand that God will indeed sometimes wait till the very last minute to intervene or to act in some way. But even if it is at the “eleventh hour,” if God acts, he never acts too late. More often than not, the question is not really one of “Will God act in time?” but “Will we give up too soon?”